A Year of Fussing and Feuding -- in Other Words, Politics

As the year comes to a close, D.C.'s political class is taking stock of the winners and losers in another eventful year in city government. Herewith, a look back at the highs and lows of 2007:

Best Feud

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) vs. Dorothy Brizill

Political observers knew it wouldn't be long before the new mayor and Brizill, the city government's most aggressive gadfly, would tangle over turf. But when security personnel dragged Brizill out of city hall in handcuffs in June after a mayoral aide charged that Brizill had yanked her lanyard, reporters almost could not believe it. The kicker: Brizill persuaded security to allow her to present her public testimony at an ongoing council hearing before she was hauled away.

Runner-up: Fenty vs. D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D)

The rivalry between the city's top two elected politicians probably would have ranked first had so many of the juicy moments not been hidden in private meetings and the snarkiest digs not been made during off-the-record interviews.

Best Activism

David J. Mallof

The telecommunications consultant and Dupont Circle resident faced stiff competition from the likes of perennial champ Brizill and schools activist Cherita Whiting. But Mallof showed he deserved the crown after leading a successful effort to persuade the council to overturn its controversial decision to redevelop the West End library and firehouse without competitive bidding. Mallof also proved formidable in debates over school reform and the costs of the Nationals' new baseball stadium.

Runner-up: Robert Vinson Brannum

The Ward 5 advisory neighborhood commissioner was top dog in terms of energy spent trying to get his name in the paper. Consider this column another small victory, Mr. Brannum.

Worst Press Event

The mayor's news conference to announce that Google had partnered with the city to provide better search technology for the city's Web site

No one explained to the two or three reporters who showed up why the new search engine would be better than the old one. And when a Google guy said he had stumbled upon property he didn't know he owned during a test search of his own name, he failed, upon follow-up questioning, to say what the property was or why he didn't know he had lost it. Rule No. 1: If you're using an anecdote to make a point, at least have a clever punch line.